Synonyms for belittling
| Grammar : Verb |
| Spell : bih-lit-l |
| Phonetic Transcription : bɪˈlɪt l |
Top 10 synonyms for belittling Other synonyms for the word belittling
- bad-mouth
- cut down to size
- cut to the quick
- deprecate
- depreciate
- derogate
- diminish
- discount
- dispraise
- downgrade
- dump on
- knock
- lower
- minimize
- pan
- pooh pooh
- poor mouth
- put down
- rip
- roast
- run down
- scoff at
- scorch
- shoot down
- shoot full of holes
- slam
- smear
- sneer at
- sour grapes
- squash
- take a swipe at
- take down
- take down a peg
- tear down
- underrate
- undervalue
- write off
Définition of belittling
Origin :- 1781, "to make small," from be- + little (v.); first recorded in writings of Thomas Jefferson (and probably coined by him), who was roundly execrated for it in England:
- Belittle! What an expression! It may be an elegant one in Virginia, and even perfectly intelligible; but for our part, all we can do is to guess at its meaning. For shame, Mr. Jefferson! ["European Magazine and London Review," 1787, reporting on "Notes on the State of Virginia"; to guess was considered another barbarous Yankeeism.]
- Jefferson used it to characterize Buffon's view that American life was stunted by nature, which he was refuting. The figurative sense of "depreciate, scorn as worthless" (as the reviewers did to this word) is from 1797. Related: Belittled; belittling.
- verb detract
- It was almost a disappointment—a belittling of his recent experience.
- Extract from : « Victory » by Joseph Conrad
- A woman must understand that she lowers herself by belittling her sisters.
- Extract from : « The Choice of Life » by Georgette Leblanc
- It is almost like belittling the greatest of marvels to call it a stroke of genius.
- Extract from : « Stories Of Georgia » by Joel Chandler Harris
- It would be too belittling, too disparaging of self-respect.
- Extract from : « In Her Own Right » by John Reed Scott
- But the expression just used must not be taken as belittling.
- Extract from : « A History of the French Novel, Vol. 2 » by George Saintsbury
- His eagerness to advance his own cause should never lead him into belittling them.
- Extract from : « The Book of Business Etiquette » by Nella Henney
- The worth of his evidence must be discredited by belittling the disturbing witness.
- Extract from : « The Behavior of Crowds » by Everett Dean Martin
- That's a little and belittling way the world has with all who wish to save it.
- Extract from : « Discourses of Keidansky » by Bernard G. Richards
- When a Chinaman wishes to pay a compliment, he does so by belittling himself and his belongings.
- Extract from : « Mike » by P. G. Wodehouse
- We object here to the tendency of belittling the human mind.
- Extract from : « The Positive Outcome of Philosophy » by Joseph Dietzgen
Antonyms for belittling
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019